Healing Writer’s Block Through the Chakras
/Did you know all creative blocks are chakra blocks?
Chakras are energetic organs, kind of like the anatomy of your soul. When they’re healthy, your life flows easily, but when they're blocked, you get blocked too. Even if you’re not familiar with your chakras, you’ve been using them all your life. You have 7 chakras that correspond to your body. They run from the “crown” of your head down to the “root” at the base of your spine. Each one represents a stage of creativity: idea → vision → voice → devotion → discipline → creation → reality.
This morning I was revisiting all of this and it occurred to me that each Chakra block meshes well with the 7 deadly sins from early Christianity. On the one hand, it was fun to chart this all out. (I like charting things out.) On the other hand, it can be helpful if you can recognize any of these ancient energy drains in your own writing practice and find a way forward.
Here’s the breakdown:
💜 CROWN – Infinite Inspiration
When the Crown is open, you’re connected to the source of your creativity. Inspiration and writing flow.
Deadly Sin Block: GLUTTONY
When blocked by Gluttony: You chase meaning everywhere except within. We sign up for every course, distract ourselves with social media, and fall into a spiral of consumption that makes us believe we’re not good enough.
The path forward: Trust the crown, write it down. Whenever you answer inspiration simply by taking notes, you’ll receive detailed instructions on how to continue. The more you follow up, the more you receive. You’re the only person who can write your book. Only you can contribute your unique experience mixed with your inspiration.
💙THIRD EYE – Structure & Vision
When the Third Eye is clear, you see the big picture, both the fantasy and the strategy. Every invention, book, and business has been imagined into reality.
Deadly Sin Block: SLOTH
When blocked by Sloth: This isn’t necessarily laziness. When it comes to writing, numbing out and brain fog are blocks to clarity. If we feel overwhelmed or intimidated by our vision, it’s not unusual to fall into this. You avoid outlining, planning, or committing because nothing feels clear. You drift. You numb. You binge instead of build.
The path forward: Many writers get stuck when they’re trying to think of what to say rather than what to ask. The question creates a void that fills up with meaning. You might be surprised by how much of that inner wisdom from the third eye.
🩵THROAT – Authentic Expression
When your Throat chakra is open, you express your authentic voice. Messy, raw, honest. You trust that the voice emerging is enough.
Deadly Sin Block: Pride
When blocked by Pride: Pride takes the form of the inner critic. Whereas creative flow is all about strengthening your true voice, the inner critic is the opposite. It’s about as melodic as a police siren, and if you listen too long, it reliably converts you into a panicked, twitching, cackling mess.
The path forward: By shedding the inner critic, we shed the ego. The great advantage your inner artist has over your inner critic is that the critic is not creative. It repeats the same old fears in every situation, so once you recognize the pattern, you can cordon it off.
💚 HEART – Intimate Devotion to the Work
When your Heart is open, you write because you care. You return to your work with compassion and trust, even when it’s hard.
Deadly Sin Block: ENVY
When blocked by Envy: The comparison trap is a heart chakra block. You look outward instead of inward. You measure your work against everyone else’s milestones. You torture yourself by feeling less than others.
The path forward: Shower this block with love. Love yourself. Love your work. Let yourself be an amateur first. Anyone who speaks a romance language will recognize that the root of “amateur” is the Latin amare, to love.
💛 SOLAR PLEXUS – Follow Through & Discipline
The solar plexus is the center for willpower, discipline and professionalism. However, balancing this chakra means you won’t burn out.
Deadly Sin Block: WRATH
When blocked by Wrath: Maybe you thought sloth fits here? I disagree. I know this stage well, and I think the biggest block is wrath. This refers to all of the impatience and frustration that comes along when you try to white-knuckle your way through the process. It can get ugly when you try to force your way through. You’ve lost the juiciness.
The path forward: Stop overworking and bring pleasure into your practice. I love sitting on my balcony or in a café and writing in pretty notebooks. I find it romantic. As you gain momentum, this gets easier and feels more natural.
🧡SACRAL – Birthing the Book
The Sacral Chakra is all about creative flow, pleasure, emotional texture. Your writing comes to life.
Deadly Sin Block: LUST
When blocked by Lust:
You chase dopamine hits—starting a dozen projects, abandoning them when they lose their spark. Lust distorts your relationship with inspiration. You chase the sexy idea, the dopamine hit, the praise and attention. You can start…but you don’t finish.
The path forward: Remember, creativity isn’t just a spark—it’s a significant, committed, intimate relationship. One you keep showing up for. Work on creating a routine that becomes a regular writing habit. That way you get to enjoy the fruits of your passion!
❤️ ROOT – Grounding the Work in the World
When the Root is strong, you’re not afraid to put your work out there. You’re sharing, planting, marketing, letting it grow
Deadly Sin Block: GREED
When blocked by Greed: You clutch your work too tightly—afraid it’ll be stolen, judged, or ignored. Or you hoard your effort, waiting for the perfect launch, the guaranteed reward. Perfectionism rears its ugly head. You get hung up on your own expectations and forget to enjoy the ride.
The path forward: Perform action without attachment to the fruits of the action. I like to think of this as random acts of marketing. Reach out like the roots of a tree and start to share what you’ve done. See what works and build on experience.
All Writer’s Blocks Are Chakra Blocks
Sometimes making progress triggers fear. This manifesting process works best when you move steadily from one chakra to the next. You might find, as far as the chakra path goes, that once you get to a certain stage, it’s much easier to get that far again and again. Before you finish a manuscript, it seems impossible. But once you do it the first time, it becomes the new normal.
